(CLINTON, Miss., Feb. 19)—The McKendree University baseball team finished up its three-game, season-opening series at Mississippi College Monday afternoon with a 21-1 loss to the Choctaws.
 
The hosts rapped out 21 hits on their way to a 7-1 start to the 2018 season. McKendree, now 0-3 on the season, will look to break into the win column closer to home this weekend when its takes on Maryville University in a four-game, non-conference series. The Bearcats and Saints will begin the weekend with a single game Friday at 2 p.m. in St. Louis.
 
Mississippi College took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. McKendree threatened in the top of the second by loading the bases before the Choctaws closed out the threat and held the Bearcats off the scoreboard. The hosts then proceeded to score six runs in the bottom of the frame for an 8-0 advantage.
 
Junior outfielder Levi Brening provided the lone run of the afternoon for McKendree when he belted a two-out, solo home run to right field to bring the Bearcats within 8-1. But Mississippi College continued to add to its advantage and pulled away to complete the weekend sweep.
 
Juniors Matt Klosterman, Drake Hampton and Austin Werner added the other three hits on the day for McKendree.